Communities in Kwara are littered with abandoned project belonging to the government. The legion of derelict government properties across the state is indicative of how wasteful the state had been. In other climes, such edifices would have been put into use to better the lives of the host communities. With their market values running into billions of naira.
A few of such buildings were abandoned as a result of the change in government while others are basically lay off by politicians who couldn’t complete the projects.
The abandoned buildings are supposed to host hospitals, schools and other businesses. A multipurpose hall and several lecture theatres have been abandoned for years at the Kwara State Polytechnic.
Abandoned at the outskirts of Ilorin, the State capital are well-planned and structured hospitals.
For communities in dire need of healthcare centres and government looking for ways to provide more infrastructural facilities for state-owned institutions, one would have expected that Kwara would leverage an avalanche of the edifices that dotted strategic locations to deepen its mandate, especially that of giving better life to citizens. But that seems not to be the case as these properties are currently rotting away due to several years of neglect and government inertia on how to complete them. More melancholy is the fact that many of these projects are enormously needed in their host communities.
THE INFORMANT247 correspondent who visited the Warrah-Oja community of Ilorin West local government observed how residents pass by an uncompleted hospital building on daily basis to seek medical attention, kilometres away from their village.
Built during the tenure of a former governor of Kwara State, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, the structure of about 10 rooms of different sizes could accommodate up to a hundred patients. It was abandoned after completion when the public was just waiting for it to be inaugurated with facilities and workers provided.
Today, the walls and plumbing works of the iconic building fashioned to resemble a modern secondary hospital have given way to cockroaches and all sorts of crawling creatures and a class. With sign of crack at it’s surface and the roof apparently blown off due to lack of proper care, it is just a matter of time before the whole building comes down.
In Eiyenkorin community of Asa Local government, another building of Warrah-Oja’s generation stands half erected at the heart of the rural townlet. No one would have believed it was the same project as that of Warrah-Oja. The structure before being abandoned is just half constructed. The place is now used as a dumpsite.
The two reflect the state of the other 14 projects awarded to members of the state parliaments in 2009. They are left either partially completed without basic equipment and manpower or half completed.
EX-LAWMAKERS IN CHARGE OF THE PROJECTS
Investigation revealed that these projects embarked upon by the administration of former governor Bukola saraki during his second term in office were allegedly awarded as compensations to lawmakers across the state. However, most of these lawmakers couldn’t complete it, leaving thousands of community dwellers suffering and the edifices built with taxpayers’ money rotting away.
“NOT WORKING FOR US” – RESIDENTS LAMENT STATE OF PROJECTS
Speaking with a resident of Warrah-Oja community who only identified himself as Ibrahim, he lamented bitterly while narrating what they go through in times of medical needs.
“We go through hell. We need to go to Ilorin before we can have access to medical services. The one we have here can only give first aid and immunization. They have abandoned this building since about 10 years ago. This community is big enough and deserves a modern healthcare centre.”
An apprentice at Eyenkorin community, who declined to be identified, said, “The state of the hospital is very saddened. It’s unfortunate that we pass by this big building every day to get medical treatment kilometres away. It’s sad!”
APPEAL TO THE GOVERNMENT
Aside from numerous other villagers who appealed to the state government for quick actions on the buildings, the Mogaji of Warrah-Oja community Alhaji Ibrahim, while addressing questions from THE INFORMANT247 sought government’s support in the area of not only healthcare but other social amenities.
“They should also help us to finish this project. We need it badly,” he pleaded.
STRUCTURES AT THE KWARA STATE POLYTECHNIC
THE INFORMANT247 correspondent who also visited the Kwara state Polytechnic observed a crowded hall. Obviously, a lecture is underway, the hall is excessively populated that some students sit on bare floor while others scampered at the window sides. The lecturer’s body language showed that he is not comfortable with the condition of the hall.
The lecturer, and likewise the student, declined comment when approached because of fear of victimisation.
But directly the lecture hall are multi-million naira structures that could consume – with ease – thrice the population these students.
THE INFORMANT247 gathered that the project was initiated by the administration of Muhammad Alabi Lawal before he was ousted out in the 2003 election. Instead of completing the projects, like other Lawal’s projects, his predecessor, Saraki abandoned them and ever since then, the gigantic edifice rot away inside the prestigious Polytechnic despite the dire need.
These buildings are now a haven for miscreants. Questionable characters hibernate there and commit crimes. The buildings are also getting weakened and collapsing from the top as a result of deterioration.
“I believe the new governor is for the masses and has listening ears. He will definitely help us out. We need new building here,” said a student leader who spoke on condition of anonymity when interviewed by THE INFORMANT247.